I have been doing a lot of reading up on this young man and the more I read the more I want him at 25. Heck I would love the FO to move up and get him. I know we need some d-line help, but there are better options that could help us in FA than there is in this years draft. If we could get either Starks or Melton out of FA and a few other under the radar DEs/Dts I would soooooo want us to take Hopkins in the first. Who's with me?

Blitzer88 wrote:I have been doing a lot of reading up on this young man and the more I read the more I want him at 25. Heck I would love the FO to move up and get him. I know we need some d-line help, but there are better options that could help us in FA than there is in this years draft. If we could get either Starks or Melton out of FA and a few other under the radar DEs/Dts I would soooooo want us to take Hopkins in the first. Who's with me?

If we get a penetrating DT in free agency, and some rotational ends, yeah, I'd be game for Hopkins, depending on who else is there.

FlyingGreg wrote:One of these years, we need to spend a #1 draft pick on an offensive skill player (RB/WR/TE). This franchise hasn't drafted one in the first-round since Jerramy Stevens in 2002.

I'd love Hopkins, even at #25.

I agree. Alot on here are acting as if the defense sucked. The fact is EVEN with a suspect pass rush were ranked #1 in points allowed. So I don't understand the hysteria that we MUST draft a defensive player with our #1 pick. We've spend the majority of our picks on defense over the last 3 years, I'd like to see them address the WR/TE in the draft this year. We've drafted a total of 3 (2-WR- Tate, Durham, 1-TE- McCoy) players at these spots, IMO that's not enough. We need more depth and playmaking ability from that end.

We've drafted on average just 3- 1/3 offensive players in each of the last 3 drafts. Whereas the Defense has yeilded on average 6 players drafted each year.

FlyingGreg wrote:One of these years, we need to spend a #1 draft pick on an offensive skill player (RB/WR/TE). This franchise hasn't drafted one in the first-round since Jerramy Stevens in 2002.

I'd love Hopkins, even at #25.

I agree. Alot on here are acting as if the defense sucked. The fact is EVEN with a suspect pass rush were ranked #1 in points allowed. So I don't understand the hysteria that we MUST draft a defensive player with our #1 pick. We've spend the majority of our picks on defense over the last 3 years, I'd like to see them address the WR/TE in the draft this year. We've drafted a total of 3 (2-WR- Tate, Durham, 1-TE- McCoy) players at these spots, IMO that's not enough. We need more depth and playmaking ability from that end.

We've drafted on average just 3- 1/3 offensive players in each of the last 3 drafts. Whereas the Defense has yeilded on average 6 players drafted each year.

Agreed. I'd rather us find the immediate help for defense in free agency, as it's unlikely we can draft an impact player in the draft that won't need some development. We are on the cusp - we need that established guy and I think it's in free agency where we find that.

I'd love to find a stud WR/TE early on. They may need some time to develop, but IMO we can better mask that progression with our offense (already on the edge of being exceptional as currently stocked) than we can with the defense.

I think this really depends on what your outlook is on Chris Clemons. I am not optimistic. I would take advantage of a potentially strong FA class at DL and release Clemons down the road if necessary. But I just don't think Seattle would do that. I hope I am wrong, but if they handle this the way they've handled things in recent offseasons, they will walk into that draft still having big needs at DL and their hand could be forced.

And while I appreciate the logic that Seattle had the #1 defense last year, that was with a healthy, productive Chris Clemons. The defense hardly looked elite once they faced a real QB without him.

But yes, Hopkins is a future star. I am honestly amazed that he's being considered a 2nd round prospect. But then again, guys like Torrey Smith, Roddy White, and even Sidney Rice went in the same kind of draft range that Hopkins is projected at, so I shouldn't be surprised.

It seems to me we all want Hopkins. I was hoping he'd slip , but that bowl game did not help that hope at all. I don't see many better options that are real posibilities at our pick. I still have a nagging feeling we trade down though, just a feeling.

As an NC State fan, there are players you just don't want to face that you know will kill your team when they are on the field with their playmaking ability. There were two such players in the ACC this year that stood out to me--Giovanni Bernard (UNC Running Back) and Deandre Hopkins. These guys are just playmakers. Both will be great in the NFL, I have little doubt. Whomever steals Bernard in the draft will be lucky. Its too bad we don't need a running back in round 2-3.

If our first round pick this year isn't either a WR or a DT than I'll be extremely disappointed. I think at 25 there should be some good players at either position to consider. I really want Hopkins but DT- Kawaan Short is also very intriguing to me.